The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-04
Speech to the Merchants.

speech. am afraid shall disappoint you.
This should be sorry to do. after having
succeeded at last, through much tribulation,
in standing face to face with my st. Louis
friends. This tribulati0n has arisen from
the extreme kindness of vast number of
American people, and the cordial invitations
they rendered me to stop and see them. Your
city was the objective point of my travels,
but sometimes 1t seemed that every town
between Washington and here, had been
represented as being directly ON my route.
1t has been hard TO convince the kind, en-
thusiastic citizens that IL would not be en-
tirely easy, within the time at my disposal,
TO pay them visit Ny ownincIination lead
Ing me In the direction OF their desires it
has been difficult matter to resist the i'm
portunities; but have made up my mind
that the people of st. Louis are to blame
for my entire perplexity and disappointment,
for through themEI was induced to leave
home at all.
II expect that anything / might say con-
cerning your State, or city, in the way Of
laudati0n or c0ngratulation, would hardly
equal your own estimate Of these subjects.
believe there was time when st. Louis
was the determined, jealous rival of Chicago.
don't know whether this condition cOntin-
ues or not. hope it does. While you can
hardly expect lockers on to take sides in
such contest, we are interested TO the ex-
tent that such struggle adds to the growth
and Improvement Of the country at large.
Both these cities exemplify in wonderful
degree how completely and speedily Ameri-
can energy and business ingenuity utilizes
every available element Of municipal growth /;
how every useful type of the worlds lapu-
lation is assimilated to the grand purpose If
American expansion.
II am here reminded Of what / suppose to
be fact that more than half of your voters
are of foreign birth and parentage. The
growth and increase of your city In every
way indicate that the condition of your pop
ulace thus made apparent, is by no means to
be deprecated. My observation during a
long residence In city similarly situated.
led me to know the value to any community
OF the industrious, frugal and thrifty men
and women who come from foreign lands to
find new homes with us, who invest them
selves with our citizenship, and who are sat
isfed and content with the freedom Of our
go@yernment, @ our laws and our institutions.
and the non-assimilating immigrants, who
seek our shores solely for the purposes of
involving disturbance, and disadvantage to
our body polite. / hope may, without i'm
propriety,. say this much in recognition of
what mas been done for st. Louis by its nat
uralized citizens.
In remembrance Of many kind and valued
friends and associates of former days.
deem myself especially fortunate in being
with you at the time when the manufacture
ing country are on exhibition.
AT your fair, one of the largest in the
country, those who seek the best and surest
evidence Of your substantial prosperity may
well be satisfied.
Here shall see things which are con-
elusive proof that you have wealth and COM
Portable homes. hope to see, besides, while
here, certain features of your city life, which,
at this time, unusually diplayed, establish
the TACT that the people of st. Louis, with
all the business engagements, toll and stirring
trade, are not averse. to pleasant enjoyment.
sight seers of all things. You can be as
sured, that, however much you may impress
us with the greatness of your city, we are
certain to have our hearts filed with the
grateful appreciation of the kindness and
hospitality Of your people"
Mrs. cleveIand's Reception.
The reception to Mrs. Cleveland at noon,
given by Mrs. Henry Scanlan, was attended
by about $50 of the most fashionable and
beautiful women of st. Louis. Mrs. Cleye-
land arrived at the house shortly after noon,
and was met at the carriage door by band
of children. little girls of the Sisters school
across the way: The beautiful lawn was
dotted with little forms that drew around
the mistress of the White House. Three of
them presented ship of crimson roses.
Mrs. Cleveland was escorted to the north end
OF the grand parlor of the Scanlan mansion.
The ladies were presented to Mrs. Cleveland
by Mrs; Seaman. She pressed their hands,
and had pleasant word for each. After
being escorted to the state dining room, she
was seated at the centre table with the host
ess and four favored guests. The table was
handsomely decorated with flowers and
fruit AT q number of tables along the side
Of the room the other guests were seated,
When the luncheon was finished the Catho-
lie Sisters, teachers Of the school of the
nelgnDorhood, were presented to Mrs
cleveland, she remaining seated. On aris-
ing she was escorted Immediately TO her car
rage, which was almost buried in flowers,
driven to the Lindell Hotel
ST. LOUIS, Oct 3-During the Presidents
remarks at the Exchange he was often in
terrupted by cheers. At one time the ap-
plause lasted several minutes. After the
party left the Exchange they were driven
ABOUT the city an houI. Throughout the
M Missonrians 0l gave evidence of their lung pow
CT. one continual cheer arose as the
procession OF six carriages followed by
strong guard of mounted police passed along,
Reaching Llndell Hotel at p. M, the street
was SO blocked that 1t took some time to
force the carriages through the entrance.
wife, and then received at the Lindell from
3 till 6p. m. A steady stream Of people
passed. When the latter hour arrived, there
appeared to be as many more waiting. Wash
ington avenue was packed for blocks during
the reception, and at the close there was no
perceptible change in the appearance of the
crowd. Mrs. Cleveland was magnifcently
attired In rich blue surrah silk, with red
rose and green leaf figures She wore a pro-
fusion of lace about her throat, caught with
a simple diamond pendant. With full lace
sleeves she presented a picture that captured
all.
The only ornaments she wore about her
neck were string Of choral beads recently
presented to her.
Col. Lamont estimates that 5000 persons
took the hand Of the President this after
noon.
The Evening.
At 7.30 o'clock this evening the President
and Mrs. Cleveland, with their travelling
were escorted through the
streets Of the city. About l50, 600
people were waiting. along the line. At the
Exposition they were conducted through the
halls. In the auditorium Of
Music Hall the party occupied two reserved
boxes. Gimore's Band of sixty pieces
played several selections, the first being
"Shower Of Roses" During the perform
ance the hanging screen on one side Of the
stage was let fall, exposing beautiful life
size oil painting of Mrs. Cleveland, painted
by Washington artist. From the letting
down of the screen to the end of the piece.
rose leaves continued to fall, from the ceiling
high above, upon the picture.
The Presidential party reached the hotel
at 10 O'Clock, and were serenaded by the
Hendricks Association, assisted by political
clubs from all the wards Of the city and
from many towns from a distance. The
serenade proper was given by several sing
ing societies. The procession, of which
they formed part. numbered fully 10000
The President was introduced to the sere-
naders by Colonel David Carruth. He ad-
dressed them, and said that what he had
seen of the vast country and people had in
creased his sense of his responsibility as
public officer and member Of great political
party. The official duty owed to ali people.
whether well or Ill performed, primarily con-
Germs them and him. As public servant he
could not fail in duty to the country without
the party of his choice. These